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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Ben Gate Overview

On February 25 2013 the Ben Gate concepts were launched at the Dairy Innovators Forum of the Australian Dairy Conference, at the Sunshine Coast. It went on to win the Dairy Innovations Award by popular vote over some stiff competition.

Ben Gate 1.0, the simpler version is described first, and Ben Gate 2.0, the version with more features is described second. Following that, some possible upgrades, some more description about the intent of this website, and the parts list (with costs), and the tools list.

Ben Gate 1.0
The first version, Ben Gate 1.0, was designed based on the problem of opening gates in wet and mud, leading to annoyed gate openers - primarily my wife!

The design was required to open gates for vehicles, and be closed to prevent stock entry. It was planned to be Open Source, so anyone could copy, modify, improve, manufacture or even sell it, with only the most modest requirements - attribution based on Creative Commons Licensing.

Profile for the prototype had to meet the following criteria.

Automate single wire gate

Cheap

Remote control – press and hold

12 volt (safe) – trans. from mains power

Parts easily available

Weather proof

Easy to assemble

Easy to repair

Parts cost about $150 - see parts and tools list lower down. Clearly if you have some parts lying around it could be cheaper. For example, I suspect windscreen wiper motors or power window motors could be good substitutes for the motor, and who knows what transformers you have in the cupboard? Your friendly electrician may have some second hand enclosures they can give you that can be weather proofed with silicon.

You can see a video of use at Youtube:

Here are some pictures:

Assembled:

Open cases:

Closeup of 'brains' - basically two double point relays and a remote relay card wired up:

Ben Gate 2.0
This design was required as a road crossing (twin gates), open gates for vehicle traffic, and close to direct stock to yard. I wanted it to be idiot proof - eg operate with one button press & have backups if remotes were lost, or individual components failed. Admittedly making something idiot proof is a fool's errand, because there is always a supply of better idiots manufactured faster that the engineer can address the potential problems. it was also mains independent, in this case solar powered. Finally, it was designed to be upgradeable - a list of potential upgrades listed further on.

Parts cost about $300 - see parts and tools list lower down. Same comments regarding parts for Ben Gate 1.0 - who knows what you have or can get for free from a mate?

A video of use:

Open cases - Brain Box is basically two H-bridge motor drivers, an Arduino Uno, point relays and a remote relay card wired up:

Paddock gates (cow access/deny) I'll post some of the options on this later

This website: www.FarmSmarts.cc
To share the concept and some other ideas, the FarmSmarts website was created, based on Open Source philosophy and Creative Commons licensing. Thus, all plans, pictures, parts lists are free on the web!

Contributions are invited - we know there are plenty of good ideas out there, and this is a farm-specific idea clearing house.

What if you want the item, but can't make it for lack of time, tools or experience. Ideally we can match up makers to users - For example, I imagine there are a number of engineers studying at university who have the skill to make these things, but are waiting tables to pay their way. Clearly they are better off doing this, even if they are paid modestly. Also, because of the licensing I've chosen to use, these items are freely available for any company or manufacturer to make too, bringing other options in for popular items.

Thanks and Acknowledgments
A long line of scientists going back to Aristotle
Arduino Team
DairyAustralia's FarmSmarts people
ADC, for opportunity to present here
Friends, Family and Colleagues for answers to curly questions, being sounding boards and forbearance!

1 comment:

This is GREAT! I've scoured the web and asked dozens of motor/hardware/gate experts if they could make just such a controller, but no one had any good ideas. I doubt if I could make it myself, but I'd love to see the sketch in case I feel like trying--or can find someone else who'd do it for me. Please let us know if and when that sketch my be posted. In any case, thanks a big bunch for sharing your ingenuity.